Ex-Gary police chief charged with child pornography, federal indictment shakes up Indiana town

A dark cloud hung over the city of Gary, Ind. today with the announcement that a former police officer from their ranks has been arrested on charges related to child pornography. James W. Bond, a 52-year-old former officer of Gary’s Police Department, is charged with sexual exploitation of a minor and possession and receipt of child pornography, for acts he allegedly committed earlier this summer.

The indictment, handed down by a grand jury in U.S. District Court in Hammond, contains disturbing allegations that Bond abused his authority to entice a minor working under the city’s Summer Youth Employment Program to produce and transmit explicit material. The former commander’s initial court appearance was scheduled for this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Abizer Zanzi.

These serious charges are the result of a joint effort and were announced by a number of law enforcement officials, including Acting District Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois Morris Pasqual, Sean Fitzgerald of Homeland Security Investigations, and Indiana State Police Superintendent Douglas G. Carter. According to a statement from the Justice Department, Assistant District Attorney Elie Zenner will represent the government in the prosecution, which was taken up by the Northern District of Illinois due to a recusal by opposing counsel in Indiana.

Although the charge is merely an accusation, Bond faces potentially severe penalties if convicted: the exploitation charge alone could land him in federal prison for a minimum of 15 years and a maximum of 30 years. The receipt and possession charges vary in severity, with possible prison sentences ranging from five to 20 years for the former, and up to 10 years for the latter.

In light of these disturbing developments, those with information or who may have been affected by Bond’s alleged actions are encouraged to come forward to Homeland Security Investigations by calling 1-877-4-HSI-TIP, which is available to the public throughout the week. Such steps underscore the enormous breach of trust that a case like this represents and provide potential victims with a avenue to obtain some measure of justice in the wake of these allegations.